Not that long ago establishing a koala hospital in Macarthur was no more than a pipedream.
But now it’s about to become reality thanks to a $5 million commitment from the State Government.
Environment minister Penny Sharpe came to Wedderburn on the weekend to announce $4.5 million in new funding to establish a koala care centre in the Macarthur region and $500,000 to support volunteer rehabilitators.
Which in effect delivers a hospital for the koalas of South Western Sydney.
Local MP Greg Warren welcomed the funding.
“This $4.5 million koala care centre will benefit both the region’s wildlife and our passionate and dedicated carers, with the help, care and expertise it will offer,’’ he said.
“The community is grateful to the region’s wildlife volunteers who care so deeply for these special animals and the new South West Sydney grants program will offer additional support.
“We are proud to be home to a thriving koala population,” Mr Warren said.
The investment will boost the availability of expert help for injured and sick koalas in the region.
The koala care centre will be part of the Wildlife Health and Conservation Hospital on the Camden campus of the University of Sydney’s School of Veterinary Science.
This facility treats the majority of koalas which come into care in the Macarthur region.
Those koalas include Mack and Gage, who were released back into the wild at Wedderburn after being treated and cared for by staff and volunteers from the Wildlife Health and Conservation Hospital and WIRES.
Mack and Gage, pictured above, will be observed for a week in a small area of bushland to ensure they are climbing trees properly. Then they’ll receive the green light to roam further afield.
The new funding will expand the hospital’s capacity to support koala rescue, rehabilitation and conservation.
The facility will also benefit wildlife rehabilitation across the region with on-call vet care and advice, and access to facilities such as pre-release enclosures, upgraded clinical equipment and biosecurity seclusion areas.
The $500,000 to support the region’s dedicated wildlife rehabilitators will be available via a grant program. The funding will support volunteers to continue their invaluable work rescuing and rehabilitating koalas.
This $5 million investment complements previous commitments to safeguard the region’s koalas, including habitat protection, koala friendly crossings and vehicle strike mitigation.
“I have seen first-hand the important work carried out by the passionate and dedicated team at the Wildlife Health and Conservation Hospital, and I’m thrilled this funding will allow them to care for more koalas,’’ Ms Sharpe said during Saturday’s announcement at Wedderburn.
“I met little Mack at the Wildlife Health and Conservation Hospital in September when she was newly orphaned and being cared for by the excellent WIRES team. It’s wonderful to see her strong and healthy as she returns to the wild.
“The NSW Government is committed to ensuring the survival of koalas like Mack and Gage in the wild, and the koala care centre will help through rescue, rehabilitation and eventual release. The region’s wildlife carers are essential, and this grant will support their work.
“Safeguarding these koalas is vital. We want future generations to be able to step into bushland in South Western Sydney and see koalas in the wild.”
